Working Out with L'Atelier Couture

In January, Shopping and Style editor Allison Kaplan's wrote a column for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine entitled "Shopping Can Be a Workout." The premise of her column was that lifestyle boutiques are going beyond selling clothes to bring more "lifestyle" to its shoppers. Based on my sore abs, thighs, and arms from my most recent bridal bootcamp at L'Atelier Couture Boutique, bridal is following suit.

Last Wednesday evening I headed to L'Atelier Couture in the North Loop, yoga mat in tow, to see what its new bridal bootcamps were all about. Rachel Warford, owner of The Barre in Wayzata, greeted guests at the door and prepared us for an hour of intense isometeric movements targeted at making our muscles smaller and leaner . . . precisely the look most brides aim to achieve before their big day.
It looked innocent enough: a bunch of yoga mats with red elastic straps for stretching and bridal gowns hanging all around us. How tough could it be? I learned the answer soon enough: Tough. Very tough. Warford had us pulsing to beat, thighs quivering, working each muscle group to fatigue. As a former Bar Method addict, I loved every minute of the workout, feeling my muscles lengthen with each stretch the followed the workout.
Though the guests were predominantly brides-to-be with likely the same agenda as me, it was nice to look to my left and see the L'Aterlier sales associates sweating right there with us. That's dedication if I've ever seen it. I can't wait to see what they'll come up with next.